SPAY DAY 2011 Pet Photo Contest Opens

Participants use images and words to capture animal companion’s essence and can win a great prize

WASHINGTON - The Humane Society of the United States, the nation’s largest animal protection organization, and its global arm, Humane Society International, are pleased to announce the launch of the 2011 Spay Day Online Pet Photo Contest. Presented by Zazzle, the Spay Day Pet Photo Contest has proven to be one of the most popular features of Spay Day, the organization’s annual call-to-action campaign to save animal lives by spaying or neutering pets. Participants can upload digital photos of their beloved companion and tell the world how their pet has touched their lives.

Entrants pick a beneficiary organization from a list of hundreds around the world, and then mobilize their friends and family to vote for their pet. Votes are cast with a $1 donation each, and every vote received will help spay and neuter animals around the world. Entrants also have the option to log in using their Facebook account and chose a photo from their Facebook photo albums. More than 600 entrants with the most votes will win stellar prizes in the Fundraisers Category, and the Grand Prize winner – the entrant that raises the most money for spay/neuter efforts -- will win a four-night trip for two to Hollywood, Calif. for the 2012 Genesis Awards.

Even without votes, entrants will be in the running to win great prizes -- a panel of three professional photographers will award prizes to their favorite 36 entries. The judges will choose one Grand Prize winner to receive a studio session with Amanda Jones, one of the country’s premier pet photographers; a $500 shopping spree at Humane Domain, The HSUS’ official online store; and a copy of the book “I Dreamed of Flying Like a Bird,” by Robert B. Haas.

Haas is also one of three professional photographers who will judge the contest this year. Joining him on the panel will be pet portrait photographers Amanda Jones and Lori A. Cheung.

For detailed information about these prizes and prizes for international winners, see our contest rules.

The HSUS and HSI, along with Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association, a veterinary affiliate, coordinate Spay Day by organizing animal shelters, humane organizations, veterinary clinics and individual advocates around the world to offer special spay-neuter events, deploy mobile spay-neuter clinics, raise money to subsidize spay-neuter surgeries, and increase awareness about the importance and benefits of spaying and neutering. Last year, HSVMA Field Services was able to provide free veterinary care to over 8,000 animals with help from the Spay Day Photo Contest. Spay Day 2011 will take place on Feb. 22 and there are events taking place throughout the month of February. For more information about Spay Day, please visit: humanesociety.org/spayday .

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The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization — backed by 11 million Americans, or one of every 28. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty — On the Web at humanesociety.org.

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